Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Whitcomb, George A 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 1:32 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

George A. Whitcomb, retired manufacturer, formerly of the firm of Ely & 
Whitcomb, carriage manufacturers at Morrison, was born in Granville, 
Washington Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1837, and is the youngest son of Benjamin B. 
and Sabrina B. (Dual) Whitcomb. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and 
his mother of New York. In 1856 he came to Unionville, this county, and 
engaged as a clerk for James A. Fisher, a general merchant. In 1857 he came to 
Morrison and was employed as a clerk in a drug-store for Dr. Coe. He bought 
out Dr. Coe in 1858 and carried on the drug business three years, when he sold 
out and engaged in the grain trade. In 1865 he bought an interest in the drug-
store of John S. Green and maintained that connection till 1867, when he sold 
out. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Ely in the real-estate business. In 
1875 he bought a half interest in the Morrison Carriage Works, the property of 
R. S. W. Ely, and the business was conducted under the firm name of Ely & 
Whitcomb. The factory did an extensive business, furnishing employment for an 
average force of 22 men, and turning out from 250 to 300 carriages annually. 
He was still interested with Mr. Ely in extensive real-estate transactions. In 
November, 1882, he sold out his interest in the factory, but still retains his 
connection with Mr. Ely in the real-estate business. Their operations extend 
over several States, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas 
and Nebraska, wherein they own upwards of 5,000 acres of valuable farming 
land, besides city and town property, including dwelling-houses and business 
buildings. During the past year they have operated quite extensively in real 
estate in Minneapolis, where they have much valuable property. Mr. Whitcomb 
was married at Mt. Carroll, Ill., June 22, 1861, to Miss Sarah A. Town, 
daughter of Salem and Mary A. Town, pioneer settlers of Whiteside County. Mrs. 
Whitcomb was born in Union Grove, of this county, Jan. 14, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. 
Whitcomb have three children, all born in Morrison: Nettie, born Aug. 22, 
1863, now taking a collegiate course at Oberlin, Ohio; Annie, born Oct. 22, 
1865, is now taking a musical course; and George G., born April 11, 1876. Mr. 
Whitcomb in early life was a Republican of abolition sympathies, and continued 
an earnest supporter of that party during the war and up to Grant's 
administration, since which time he has been an independent, strongly opposed 
to so-called "protective tariff." He has been a thorough student in political 
economy and American politics. He supported the Democratic national nominees 
in 1880 and 1884, and has won a reputation as a candid and fair speaker, whose 
campaign arguments were logical and well supported by unimpeachable authority. 
He has been twice chosen Mayor of Morrison and has held minor offices. As 
shown by our sketch, Mr. Whitcomb is one of the pioneers of Morrison, he 
having been a resident of this city upwards of 28 years, during which time he 
has been identified with its leading business interests, and foremost in 
support of every public enterprise calculated to benefit the city or to 
improve its advantages. Mr. Whitcomb is a thorough business man, cool and 
clear-headed, of quick perceptive faculties and sound judgment, scrupulously 
exact in all his dealings and rigid in his notions of justice, honor and 
veracity. Naturally quick and impulsive, he has won that greatest of 
victories, self-control. These few remarks are offered in no spirit of 
laudation, but simply as the briefest possible mention of some of the 
characteristics of an old settler who is held in high esteem as an upright 
man, true friend, and kind neighbor by many who will read these pages.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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